Water heater



W. S. FINKEN Dec. 18, 1934.

2 .sheets- WATER HEATER Sheet l Filed March 5, 1934 INN VIII/ Il l'llllll/llllllllll De- 13, 193.4 v w. s. FINKEN u 1,984,791

l WATER HEATER Filed March 3, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 18,1934 UNITED STATES vPATENT* OFFICE k WATER' HEATER walter s. sinken, NewYork, N. Y. Application'March 3, 1934, Serial No. 713,800

' 15 claims. (01257-248) This invention'relates to an improvementin hotwater heaters and to a water heating system. The object Vof theinvention is to provide a means by which a maximum quantity of hot wateris constantly supplied for household purposes, with the utilization of aminimum amount of heat. Y

At the present time, in hot water supply systems, a coil, often ofrelatively small diameter tubing, is used as the heating coil throughwhich the water to be heated is circulated. The heating coil is usuallysurrounded by a jacket in which hot water from the boiler is containedand which heats the water circulating through the coil. In otherstructures, a gas flame is directed against the coil to heat' threvwaterpassing through it. The objections to the use of such a coil and themanifold insufciencies of the various arrangements in whichcoils of thiskind are employed have rendered them subject to many just criticisms.The primary defect has been that sediment, rust, dirt and other foreignmatter in the water, and particularly in some localities of the country,soon clogs the coil so that the passage of water through it is greatlyimpeded and a relatively small amount of hot water for a large amount ofheat used, is obtained. ifnbtherV objection found in heating coils ofthis character vis that the time required in obtaining a sufhcientamount of hot water is relatively long, and in cases where hot water isconstantly in demand, delays in the use of the water are' oftennecessary to enable the heatingV means to function for a sufficienttime" to replenish the hot Water supply. Y

My invention, therefore, contemplates a device for heating waterintended primarily for household consumption in which the defects of thenow widely used heating coil ar'e obviated; in which clogging orimpedance of the hot water circulation is prevented and in whichan'ample supply of hot water is attained with the use of a minimumamount of fuel for heating the water. The invention also contemplatesthe use of an improved arrangement 'for circulating the hot water sothat the heated water contained ,inV

part hereof, Fig; 1 is a face view ofi a water' heater made inaccordance with this invention, parts of the same being shown insection, the section` being taken cn the line 1-1 of Fig.`2, lookis asectional View on the. line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

looking in the direction. of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a View showing-thewateri heater connected tov a boiler, a storage tank Aand 'to asource ofwater supplyjFig. 5 is a vertical sectional View through a double unittype of construction of water heater; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionalview through the structure of Fig. 5, the section being taken at rightangles thereto; Fig. 7 is a sectional View on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6,looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 8 is a view showing howa" number of the units shown in Figs. 5 and 6l are connected I`togetherin cases where a relatively largequantity of hot water is consumed.

With reference to the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, theheater is composed of a casing internally divided by ai flexed'diaphragminto two-chambers, one: of which contains hot watericirculated throughit` from a boiler `and used for heating, and the other chamber receivescold water from the water main. The casing fis composed of aconcavo-conveX, diskshaped casting 10, which is secured bythe capscrews11, located adjacent its periphery, to anotherr disk-shaped dishedcasting '12. The castings 10 and 12 are so united that their concavefaces are towardone another to form a water chamber between them.Clamped between the two castings 10 and 12 is a normally hat, sheetmetal flexible diaphragm 13 of disk shape, which'acts as a verticalpartition between the two. castings and acts to Separate the interiorrof the casing into the two separate chambers 14 and 15. The casting .10is, near its marginal edge,v provided with an annular inclined surface16 which co-operates with a complementary surface 17. provided onthe-casting 12 to clamp the diaphragmr 13 between them. .-'I'he actionof these angular or inclined surfaces 16 and 17 on the normally flatvdiaphragm 13 issuch that it tends to buckle or b'ulge the diaphragmout- Wardly toward the inner or concave face of the castingr 12 asclearly shown in Fig. 2, thusr holding the diaphragm in dished shape andunder tension. Water delivered from the main or house supply iscirculated through the chamber 15 as will be hereafter described, andthe pressure of such water on the diaphragm 13 is such thatit normallytends to thrust ythe diaphragm 13 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2,and against the curvature of the diaphragm. To limit this reversemovement of the diaphragm under the pressure of the water supply, andparticularly when relatively high pressure is present, a stop 18 in theform of a stud is provided on the concave face of the casting 10.

The manner in which the water heater is connected into a heating systemis shown in Fig. 4. There, a boiler of a l.conventional heating type isshown .at 20. A .return pipe 21 `leadingrom. the boiler connects to anipple 22 provided on the casting 10 adjacent the lower end of thesame.. A second pipe, indicated at 23 leads from the boiler and connectswith a nipple 24 formed 'on the casting l0 adjacent its upper fend.Through this arrangement, it is obvious that a continuous circulation ofhot water from the boiler 20 through the chamber 14 of the heater isassured. At 25 is shown a water-supply pipe leading from the water mainand r terminating :in :an -injector nozzle .26 located within a passage27 formed in the projection 2.8 on Vthe casting l2. Passage 27 leads tothe interior of the `chamber 15 so that .olold water from lthe watersupply is directed into said ychamber from the injector nozzle 26 andlls the chamber. It will now be apparent that the hot water in thechamber 14 obtained from the boiler 2i) will transmit its :heat to thediaphragrn 13 and the diaphragm will in turn heat the water in thechamber 15. The water in chamber 15, so heated will rise and pass out of,the ,passage 29 formed through a projection 30 on Athe casting l2, saidpassage being connected to a pipe 31 which leads to the hot waterstorage tank 32 and preferably enters into the tank at thebottom. Areturn pipe 33 leads from the tank 32 and connects with a nipple 3-4integrally formed on the projection 28 and entering into the passage 27.A pipe 35 leads from the tank 32 to the house piping.

From the foregoing, the operation of the heating device will be readilyunderstood. Cold Water enters the chamber 15 through pipe 25 andinlector nozzle 26. Hot water from the boiler is circulated throughchamber 14 and transmitting its heat, through the diaphragm 13, itquickly heats the cold water on the opposite side of the diaphragm inchamber 15. The heated water rises from the chamber 15 to the tank 32.When faucets or taps in the house are opened to de liver hot water fromthe tank 32, pressure of the water in chamberl on the diaphragh 13 isreduced somewhat, this causing the diaphragm to flex in the direction ofits curvature or to the right in Fig. 2, such iiexure of the diaphragmcausing any sediment then adhering to both faces of the diaphragm todrop loose, so that the diaphragm is always clean on both of its facesand the heating operation is in no manner retarded by an accumulation offoreign matter on the diaphragm. When water is being drawn Off from tank32, and the pressure of the water in chamber 15 is thus reduced,injection of cold water from the mains through injector nozzle 26occurs. This injection causes heated water to be drawn from the tank 32through pipe 33 by suction and such heated water enters the chamber 15to mix with the freshly injected cold water. This arrangement, by whicha cire culation of the water in the tank 32 through chamber 15 and thenback into the tank, is had, results in a constant maintenance of thewater in the tank at a relatively uniform temperature for the entiredepth of the water there contained.

It will be seen that the circulating system described constitutes adeparture from conventional practice in several ways. First, it deliversthe heated water from the heating chamber 15 into the bottom of thestorage tank, it being customary to deliver the heated water into thetop of the tank; and secondly, it delivers the cold water supply fromthe water mains directly to the heating unit, rather than into thebottom of the storage tank as is the conventional practice. Through thisarrangement, it has been found that a full tank of hot water isconsistently maintained with a minimum of heating effort.

At the bottom of the casting 12 is an outlet 60 through which sediment,dirt and foreign matter collecting in the bottom of chamber 15 may bedrawn off. A valve of conventional form may be attached to said outlet.

In the structure shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, t-wo diaphragme 63 and 37are employed. Each of these diaphragms is clamped between vthe angularor inclined surface 39 of an annular spacing member 40 and acomplementary inclined surface 41 formed adjacent the marginal edge of aconcave-convex casing member 42.Y

Two of the casing members 42 are employed, one being for the right sideof the spacing member and the other fitting against the left sidethereof, as plainly seen in Fig. 5. The casing members 42 and thediaphragms are held together by the 'screws 30. These casing members 42correspond generally in structure to the casing e member 10 in Figs. 1and 2. Each casing member 42 is provided with the stop 13 for thepurpose of limiting the lexure of the diaphragms 63 and 37 under thepressure of the cold water supply which enters into the spacing member40 between the two diaphragms and is heated by contact therewith. Eachof the casing members 42 has a nipple 43 projecting beyond its peripheryand communicating with the interior of the casing member to reach thechamber 44. The end of one of the nipples 43 is closed by a plug 45 andthe two nipples are joined by a union 46 (Fig. 7). The passage formed byconnected nipples 43 and union 46 is joined to the pipe 21 leading fromthe boiler 20. At their upper ends each of the casing members 42 isprovided with a projecting nipple 47, these two nipples being connectedtogether to form a passage leading into the chambers 44. One end of thepassage formed by the connection of the two nipples 47 is closed by theplug 48, while the other end is connected to the pipe 23 leading to theboiler. From the arrangement described, it will be seen that the hotwater from the boiler is circulated through the chambers 44 and willheat the diaphragms 63 and 37 which will impart heat to the cold waterin the space or chamber 62 located between these diaphragms. The spacingmember 40 is provided with a connection 50 which receives the pipe 25,said connection being provided with an inwardly extending tubularpassage 51 into which the injector nozzle 26 protrudes. A sedimentchamber 52 is connected to the passage 51 by means of a union 53, thelower end of the sediment chamber being provided wtih a draw-oil valve54 through which sediment collecting in the chamber 52 may be removed.Sediment chamber 52 is formed with a laterally extending nipple 55 whichreceives the end of the pipe 33. Spacing member 40 is provided with adrain opening 56 lreceiving a pipe 57 provided with a valve 58 throughwhich sediment collecting in the chamber located'between the diaphragms63 and 37 can be drawn out. Pipe 31 connects with the top of spacingmember 40, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

In operation, the structure shown in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, is similarto that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and herein previously described. `Hotwater from the boiler lls the chambers 44, and cold water from thesupply main is received in the chamber 62 located between the twodiaphragms 63 and 37. Thepressure of the water on the diaphragms tendsto move them slightly toward their respective stops 18. When suchpressure is slightly relieved, as by the drawing of water from thestorage tank 32, the diaphragms will spring slightly toward their convexside, such movement acting to free the surfaces of the diaphragms fromany adherent sediment, air bubbles and other elements impedimentary tothe heating action. The injection o'f a fresh supply of cold water intothe chamber 62,.which occurs when water is being drawn from storage tank32, causes water to be drawn from the tank 32 through pipe 33 to chamber62.

In installations where a relatively largev quantity of hot water isrequired, a number of the heating units of the construction shown inFigs. 5 and 6 may be connected together, as shown in Fig. 8. It will bethere seen that the pipe 23 leading from the boiler is connected to theunits by branch pipes 70 which connect into the short pipes 74 lunitingthe units, by the T-unions. Pipes 74 connect the nipples 47 provided onthe casing members. Boiler return pipe 21 similarly connects to theunits through branch pipes v73 which join with the short pipes 75uniting the nipples y43. Pipe 31 leading from the bottom of.

the storage tank connects with vthe tops of the several chambers 62through the branch pipes 7l. Pipe 25 leading from the Water supply isprovided with branches, each of which carries an injector nozzle 26 andattaches to the connection 50, the injector nozzles extending into theseveral chambers 62 and operatingr as described with respect to thestructure shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Pipe 33 is connected by the branches72 to the several sediment chambers 52. The structure shown in Fig. 8operates similarly to that where a single heating unit is used, but ofcourse produces a greater quantity of hot water. The assembly of heatingunits in multiples of two can be had to any reasonable extent to meetvarious requirements.

In the several structures herein described, a water heating device ispresent in which the various defects so prominent in coil type heatersare completely obviated. Clogging ofthe heater by dirt, rust andsediment is rendered impossible. Rapid heating of the water is' assuredby reason of the large heating surface, i. e., the area of the diaphragmor diaphragms, and a rapid rise of the heated water to the storage tankoccurs due to the fact that the rise of the heated water is not impededas happens when a heating coil with turns of the coil of customary lowpitch is used. The formation of air bubbles, on the surfaces of thediaphragm and the collection of dirt and sediment thereon is preventeddue to ilexing movement of the tensioned diaphragm when the Water isdrawn which movement displaces the bubbles and adherent dirt orsediment. The faces of the thin, sheet metal Adiaphragm being constantlyclean and smooth, ,easily transmit the heat of .the hot water to thecold. -Direct connection of the cold water inlet to theheating unitrather than to the storage tank, as in present practicafassures throughacv tion Aof the injector'nozzle, la positive circulation of theheated'water resulting 'inthe contents of the storage tank being .ofsubstantially even `temperature from the top of the tank to theLbottom.These `and other advantages are'attained bythe invention. f

What I claim is: H. i

1. A hotl water heater comprising a pair of united dished casingssecured together with their concave surfaces facing oneanother to form awater chamber, and a diaphragm flexed to concavo-convex form and heldunder tension and located between` the casing members and dividing theinterior of the chamber into separate water passages.

2. A hot water heater having a casing com'- posed of several unitedcasing elements, said casing having a water 'chamber and a' flexibleheating diaphragm dividing the chamber into separate passages and meanson the casing elements for clamping the diaphragm between them andflexing said diaphragm into dished form by 'thel clamping pressure.

3. A hot water heater having a casing composed of several united casing.elements, an annular spacing memberclamped between the-casing elements,apair of exible heating dia.- phragrns held between the casing elementsand the spacing member, the spacing member and the diaphragme forming acold water chamber .1

between them, the opposite faces of the diaphragms and the Acasingmembers forming'chambers for Water used for heating. f

4. A hot-water heater comprising, apair of disk-shaped concavo-convexcasing lmembers having their concave faces directed towardvone anotherto form a chamber, a flexible diaphragm held between the casing members,said `casing' members being provided with complementary inclinedsurfaces near their marginal edges, said edges co-op'erating to clampthe diaphragm between them and flex the diaphragm. f

5. Ahot water heater composed off-a pair of concavo-convex disksattached togetherv with their respective concave faces extending towardone another and a thin, flexed dished sheet metal diaphragm clampedbetween the casing members and held tensioned therebetween anddividingthe space between the casing members into two separate chambers.

6. In a hot water heater, a casing containing a diaphragm dividing theinterior of the casing into two separate water chambers, means forcirculating hot water through one of said chambers on one side of thediaphragm, means for circulating water to be heated through the otherchamber on the opposite side of the diaphragm, and means for flexing thediaphragm to cause the same to bulge toward the chamber through whichthe Water to be heated is circulated.

7. A hot water heater comprising, a pair of disk-shaped concave-convexouter casing members having their concave faces directed toward oneanother to form a chamber, an intermediate casing member held betweenthe outer casing members, a pair of ilexible diaphragms held between theintermediate and outer casing members, said casing members beingprovided with co-operating inclined surfaces near their marginal edges,said edges co-operating to clamp the diaphragme between them and iiexthe diaphragms toward one another.

8. A hot water heater composed of a pair of concave-convex disksattached together with their respective concave faces extending towardone another, an annular intermediate casing member clamped between thedisks, and a pair of spaced, thin flexed sheet metal diaphragms .clampedbetween the casing members and intermediate member and dividing thespace between the casing members and intermediate member into separatechambers, one of which is located between the two diaphragms.

9. A hot water heating system comprising a heating device divided intotwo chambers and having a exible diaphragm located between the chambers,means for circulating hot water through one of said chambers, aninjector nozzle directed into the other chamber, said nozzle beingconnected to a source of Water supply, a storage tank, a pipe leadingfrom the tank to the chamber to which the nozzle is connected, andanother pipe leading from the tank to a location adjacent to the nozzleso that the injection of water through said nozzle will draw water fromthe tank and deliver it to the chamber to which the nozzle is connected.

10. A hot water heating system comprising a heating device divided intotwo chambers with a flexible diaphragm located between the chambers,means for circulating hotl Water through one of said chambers, aninjector nozzle directed into the other chamber, said nozzle beingconnected to a source of cold water supply, a hot y. water storage tank,a pipe leading from the bottom of said tank to the chamber to which thenozzle is connected and another pipe leading from the tank to the samechamber and in a location adjacent to the nozzle so that the injectionof water through said nozzle from the cold water supply will draw waterfrom the tank and deliver it to the chamber to which the nozzle isconnected.

11. In a hot water heater, a casing containing a flexed, disc-shaped,dished diaphragm dividing the interior of the casing into two separatewater chambers, means for circulating hot water through one of thechambers on one side of the diaphragm, means for circulating water to beheated through the other chamber on the opposite side of the diaphragm,and means on the casing operative at the marginal edge Dor'- tions ofthe diaphragm for causing the diaphragm to bulge toward the chamberthrough which the water to be heated is circulated.

12. In a hot water heater, a casing containing a disc-shaped diaphragmdividing the interior of the casing into two separate water chambers,means for circulating hot Water through one of the chambers on one sideof the diaphragm, means for circulating water to be heated through theother chamber on the opposite side of the diaphragm, and means for holdYing the diaphragm under iiexed tension and causing it to bulge towardthe chamber through which the water to be heated is circulated.

13. In a hot water heater, a casing containing a flexed, tensioneddiaphragm, said casing having a chamber on one side of the diaphragm forholding heating water and having a chamber on the other side of thediaphragm for containing water to be heated, means for causing thediaphragm to bulge toward the chamber in which the water to be heated iscirculated, the pressure of said water resisting the flexing of thediaphragm and reduction in pressure of said water allowing movement or"said diaphragm toward its exed position.

14. A hot water heater comprising, a pair of casing members havingconcave faces directed toward one another to form a Water chamber, adished, iiexible diaphragm held between the casing members and dividingthe chamber into twoseparate compartments, means for normally WALTER S.FINKEN.

